The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out raids at the campus of Lovely Professional University and several other locations connected to the Lovely Group as part of an ongoing investigation.
The group is owned by Ashok Kumar Mittal, a Rajya Sabha member from the Aam Aadmi Party, who also serves as the founder and chancellor of the university.
Officials said the searches were conducted by ED teams from Jalandhar and Chandigarh at various premises associated with the group. Apart from the university campus in Phagwara, properties linked to affiliated educational institutions and business units were also covered.
These reportedly include business schools in Gurugram, along with other commercial establishments such as retail outlets and a distance education centre. Residences linked to the promoters, including that of Mittal, were also part of the operation.
According to sources, the inspection is tied to a probe into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The searches began early in the day, with officials indicating that the central agency did not seek assistance from local police during the operation.
The development comes shortly after Mittal was appointed as the deputy leader of his party in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. The change had drawn attention within political circles, although party leaders described it as part of routine organisational decisions.
Mittal, a chartered accountant by profession and a law graduate, is among the party’s representatives in the Upper House of Parliament.
There has been no formal response from Mittal or the university regarding the raids so far. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are awaited as authorities continue their scrutiny of the financial dealings linked to the group.
The Impressive Times
No Comments: